Visit the Davis Family Library atrium anytime between noon and 4 p.m. today, tomorrow, and Thursday to sign thank-you postcards that will be mailed to alumni at the end of the year. You’ll also receive a coupon for a *free coffee or tea* from the Wilson Cafe!

In response to complaints about people having cell phone conversations adjacent to quiet study areas in Davis Family Library, LIS recently purchased to cell phone booths. These almost completely sound proof booths are proving to be quite popular.

Cell phone booth in the NE corner of the upper level of Davis Family Library

After consulting with LIS staff and the Student LIS Advisory Committee, and after seeking suggestions through this blog, we have relocated the two booths in Davis Family Library. They are both on the upper level in more low profile locations so there is less of an aesthetic impact on the architecture of the building. One is in the NE corner closest to Twilight Hall opposite elevator #2, and the other is in the SW corner closest to the Axinn Center next to group study room LIB301F. When you’re on the upper level of Davis Family Library and you want to make or receive a cell phone call, please take advantage of the private booths.

We were going to wait to announce the new Cellphone booths in Davis Family Library until we’d had a chance to evaluate them and decide on a permanent location for them, but Brittany beat us to the punch with this post on middblog. (Thanks Yiling Zhang for the great picture.)

Photo by Yiling Zhang

We’ve installed these in an attempt to solve two problems. For years we’ve had complaints about people having cell phone conversations adjacent to study areas. Other academic libraries like ours have successfully used cell phone booths like these to solve that problem. Also, there are about thirty staff members working in shared offices in Davis Family Library and these folks don’t have a private place for phone calls to their doctor, baby sitter, etc. Part of the reason we acquired the cell phone booths was to enhance the work/life balance of these staff members.

We purchased them at a deeply discounted price and we hope they’re worth it. Only time will tell. In Brittany’s post she mentioned that the location of the one on the upper level might not be ideal. If you have suggestions of better spots in Davis Family Library for these, please feel free to drop me a line at jwatson@middlebury.edu Thanks!